Mauritanian security delegation visits El Guerguerate border with Morocco

A high-ranking security delegation from Mauritania, led by the country’s security chief and the head of the gendarmerie, conducted a significant visit on Monday to the border area with Morocco, specifically at kilometer 55 facing the El Guerguerate crossing. «This visit, unprecedented at such a senior level, signals a clear intention to strengthen border control and security with Morocco», a Nouakchott-based media outlet reported on Tuesday.

«This marks a major shift in the government’s approach to the El Guerguerate area, which Mauritania had long considered an international passage. Now, Nouakchott sees it as a bilateral crossing point», journalist Cheikh Ahmed Lamine told Yabiladi.

«Never before have Mauritanian officials of this rank, from either the security or military sectors, visited the Moroccan border. This responsibility was traditionally left to ordinary customs officials in charge of technical matters».

The visit comes shortly after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which underscores the importance of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara and acknowledges the Kingdom’s economic sovereignty over the region.

Morocco and Mauritania are expected to hold a new session of their joint commission in December, Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita announced before the House of Representatives.